break in(to) tears

break in(to) tears

To suddenly begin to cry. My mother was fine this morning, but she broke into tears at the funeral.

See also: break, tear

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

break out in(to) tears and break in(to) tears

to start crying suddenly. I was so sad that I broke out into tears. I always break into tears at a funeral.

See also: and, break, out, tear

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.